RIDE TV adds mogul to boost investor roster

RIDE TV adds mogul to boost investor roster
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Michelle Clancy
| 15 November 2014
RIDE Television, a 24-hour cable television network celebrating the American horse lifestyle and culture, has attracted the attention and investment of American billionaire John Paul DeJoria.

DeJoria, who co-founded the Paul Mitchell Systems hair products company as well as Patron Spirits, recently entered the wireless market by launching ROK Mobile. His undisclosed investment in RIDE TV brings him into a new market altogether.

According to the US Horse Council, the $102 billion horse lifestyle market includes 30 million Americans who ride horses every year, one out of every 63 Americans who interact daily with horses and the tens of millions who participate annually as horse owners or spectators in every state.

Headquartered in Ft. Worth, Texas, RIDE is available via Armstrong, a cable provider in the Northeast, and through KlowdTV digitally.

Dejoria was introduced to RIDE TV when the company requested an interview with him while filming Horses that Heal at The Arbor – a therapeutic horse riding facility in Georgetown, Texas – supported by him and his wife, Eloise.

"We finished this amazing interview and John Paul mentioned his interest in investing in," said RIDE TV CEO Michael Fletcher.

"I was shocked someone so iconic wanted to partner with us. John Paul is a visionary and truly wants to grow the love of horses; I can't imagine a better partner."

"My family and I are into horses, and so are my super pals at [charity social club] Ranchero Visitadores," added DeJoria. "It's only fitting to be able to support countless hours of watching exciting events and programmes on RIDE TV."